8/7/2015

Came here with my husband and another couple after taking pictures at the LP Zoo. We loved it! We started with the onion rings and fried pickles (my fav) which were really good.

I got the California wrap which was really good and my husband got a burger which he really liked. The portions are HUGE! And the prices are very reasonable.

The atmosphere was fun and our server was really nice. My only complaint would be that after the ice and fruit, there wasn't much Sangria in my drink, but it was still very good!

Wish we lived closer, we would come more often!

8/1/2015

Found this lovely place on my cab ride to Lincoln Park Zoo(just across the street).

The staff were all super friendly. My server was a gem. She walked through the menu as it was my first time there.

Got the salad bar( huge compared to most, very fresh), the BLT( Yummy!) that comes with 2 pickle spears and fresh made potato chips. As there was a carafe of ice water waiting on the table, I ordered one of their amazing shakes which you can customize. I got a chocolate peanut butter shake that was to die for.

I will definitely return here the next time I'm visiting LPZ!

• 

  BLT with homemade potato chips

  BLT with homemade potato chips
• 

  Chocolate peanut butter shake

  Chocolate peanut butter shake
• 

  Salad

  Salad

7/31/2015

great "chain-like" food...

the menu is similar to that of your suburban brew-pubs and the like, however tastes much better ;) loved my veggie burger - not heavy on the black bean filler and i could actually see what veggies were used to "create it". i upgraded to the sweet potato fries and sure glad i did - shoestring and delicious. hubs loved his patty melt and our kid was presented with a fun tray/plate, animal crackers and wikisticks (in addition to the usual coloring sheet and crayons).
better than average salad bar, but for $15 a pop, it's not that great. i'd rather get a nice hearty plated meal.
only 2 complaints: it's tight in there! i had to keep scooting my seat closer to the table to avoid salad bar traffic. thank goodness they didn't seat anyone in the awkwardly placed 4 top wedged behind us and a pole. i basically could place my elbow on the corner of that table!
also - the bathroom...eekoids! small and stinky and of course my kid had a diaper doo doo so it was like a video game trying to change him (on an awkwardly highly placed changing table) and avoid getting whacked by either the (only) stall door, an elbow of someone washing their hands or the bathroom door!

8/12/2015

THE. BEST. WINGS. IN. CHICAGO. PERIOD. I'm a wing aficionado and I've easily had wing at over 100 establishments in the city and these are by far the best. They're always served piping hot, perfectly crisped and Coates in delicious sauces. Bird's Nest is a close second but for my money, no one beats RJ's wings. The atmosphere is cozy, the staff is friendly and the drinks are stiff. I've inly had the wings, but the salad bar is its own marvel.

• 

  16 hot buffalo wings with celery and bleu cheese.

  16 hot buffalo wings with celery and bleu cheese.

7/4/2015

I really wanted to like RJ Grunts. We showed up 30 minutes early for our reservation but they couldn't accommodate us. Not a problem. We walked over to the zoo and enjoyably killed the time till they could seat us. When we got back, they seated us almost immediately. This gives them lots of bonus points in my book. Hence, I wanted to like it.
Feeling adventuresome, we decided to try the fried pickles as an appetizer. Not a great choice. Basically it was like chicken McNuggets with a pickle in the center instead of  mystery chicken parts. Not something I would ever get again. I tried their signature burger, the Grunt Burger, as a main course. Big disappointment. It was a very ordinary burger for $13. Not bad, but nothing I would ever get again.
The only exceptional part of the meal was the dessert. We got the Cookie Bowl. Wow, that was great. My buddy got an ice cream sundae which he said was very good. So if I were looking for a place for dessert only, this would be a go-to place. But for a dinner, there are a lot of other options that are way ahead of it.

• 

  Fried Pickles at RJ Grunts. Meh!

  Fried Pickles at RJ Grunts. Meh!

8/4/2015

Not a family friendly place, which is sad, bring across the street from the zoo.  The waitress was not very friendly when informing us of their no strollers policy.  Hopefully some family friendly establishments will open up nearby very soon.

4/26/2015

Good spot to grab a lunch or dinner.  It does get busy so it's wise to make an advanced reservation.  Huge salad bar with lots of choices of greens, pasta & soup selections.  Look thru their menu before going because they have a large selection of choices (Menu: leye.com/files/Menus/Gru…). Overall service was Ok; our server was attentive and prompt with our needs & requests; wait for the food wasn't long and the ambiance was a bit retro with dark amber lights and 60's pictures of women every corner of the wall.

I ordered the Old Hickory (Chicken Breast with cajun spices) for $10.95.  It's always an odd feeling for me to order a burger priced over $10.  I am not a fan for paying that much of a burger. My sandwich lacked cajun spices and tasted mediocre.  My wife ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger for $11.95 and tasted like any other burger.  There is nothing here at RJ Grunts that placed their food or service above other restaurants besides their prices.

Kids menu available but I don't recommend it.  Very small portions.  Kids ordered chicken tenders/strips and it came with (2) descent sized strips with their homemade chips (potato chips).

I don't see a reason to recommend RJ Grunts. It's is over priced.  C'mon who pays $8 for grilled cheese?  Two slices of bread & Kraft Velveeta cheese melted in between (I prefer bacon) too. Gave (3) stars because it's descent but nothing to rave about.

• 

  Swiss Mushroom

  Swiss Mushroom
• 

  Old Hickory

  Old Hickory

6/6/2015

Great burgers a few blocks away from Lincoln Park Zoo.

This place is known for its burgers. I happened to be around the neighborhood and decided to give it a shot. As I was walking towards the restaurant, first thing I noticed was the smell: we could smell hypnotizing delicious burgers even half a block away!

Menu is generous and they offer more food beyond burgers. But I wasn't there to explore anything else. I ordered a burger with a poblano pepper inside and was fascinated by it! At first it seemed to have too much cheddar cheese (the fake orange kind), but it turned out to balance the flavor just right.

In a party of four, each one of us loved their burgers!

I high recommend this place. They offer decently priced and delicious burgers!

7/13/2015

Went here after a long and exhausting day at the zoo...

Everything here other than burgers is very PLAIN and boring.  Even the chips with the salsa and guacamole appetizer was the most bland tasting salsa and guac I have ever had.  My fish (I ordered fish and chips) needed to be crispy.  The fries were just not good.  Reminded me of high school cafeteria fries.  I can't stand when a place can't make something as simple as french fries taste good.  Very friendly service though.  I expected WAY better from a Lettuce Entertain You joint.

8/5/2015

Great wings and burgers! Also, a big salad bar if you are trying to eat healthy. They have been around for decades and have pictures of all the waitresses that have worked there over the years. A very cool place and it's one of the first lettuce entertain you restaurants. It's very casual and people are usually friendly. Definitely worth checking out.

7/15/2015

My friend and I were going out to dinner on our way home and decided to get off at a random stop of the Clark bus in Lincoln Park. We ended up here because the sign looked cute. We were immediately seated; the restaurant wasn't busy.
Our server immediately greeted us with a smile. We had to ask about specials, which I can shrug because she was extremely sweet. I'm in the industry, so I usually know what to ask about- ie specials, faves, industry discounts, etc.
Our server told us that the burgers were the best, so I ordered a mushroom Swiss burger with a turkey patty on a lettuce bun instead of bread. With sweet potato fries because I'm a sucker for those things! My friend got the salad bar with one item (it's an option) - his one item was wings. The salad bar is gigantic and has anything under the sun. I was tempted, but man, I wanted a burger.
My burger was amazing! Too much lettuce as the bun, but I just didn't eat what I didn't want. The mushrooms were cute little button mushrooms. Sautéed perfectly. The Swiss was melty and delicious. The sweet potato fries were really good, too! They're cut like shoe string fries. She brought out a chipotle mayo of some kind for me to dip it in because it was something that she liked to pair it with. Service details! I gobbled my whole meal up!
I only had water. I would've gotten a cocktail but am on meds because I was a messy bartender the other day and slashed open my finger, putting me on meds to prevent infection- whomp.
What was awesome was that, since we were first time guests, our server brought out a 1/2 warmed up chocolate chip cookie topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. HOW CRUEL. We were so full, but one bite into that ooey gooey chocolate chip cookie + it was a wrap! So. Delicious. What a great idea to make the experience memorable.
I would go back to try the salad bar. This place is GOOD, yes, and our service was great. But it's nothing too too special, you know?

• 

  First time guest treat - 1/2 warmed up chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce

  First time guest treat - 1/2 warmed up chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce
• 

  Swiss Mushroom Turkey Burger (lettuce cup bun) with sweet potato fries

  Swiss Mushroom Turkey Burger (lettuce cup bun) with sweet potato fries

1/1/2015 Updated review

After an extremely long day at work, I had decided to stop into this Lincoln Park gem.

After waiting a short time, I was seated in Dori's section.  She is outstanding.  To make a long short, I decided to order the BBQ Ribs, which was the daily special.  

When I was presented the incredible platter of ribs.   OMG, the ribs were outstanding.  Dori would check in with me without being overbearing.  There were enough ribs, I had to take half of the ribs home.

Again, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone.

• 

  Full slab rib special

  Full slab rib special

4/17/2015

Go-to lunch diner spot. Perfect mix of sandwiches and other yummy foods. I've had the turkey burger and also had the salad bar. The burger was fantastic especially with the sweet potato fries. The salad bar is relatively pricey but worth it if you're hungry.

I've only been there for lunch so not sure how dinner service is but the lunch service has been good every time even during slightly busier times.

Overall it's a decent lunch comfort food spot in the area.

8/4/2015

Amongst all the amazing culinary choices in Chicago, the food is rather unremarkable, but what makes this place shine is the training and service you will find at all Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants. That really is a big part of the experience. It seems that all employees have great attitudes, excellent customer service skills, and really leave you feeling happy. They really have great formula - great service, consistent quality, and fair prices. It's always a safe bet. This place seems to be very popular with families with small children. BTW, the turkey club was really delicious!

4/7/2015

I came here a couple weeks ago with a girlfriend for an early dinner because I have a Lettuce Entertain You frequent diner card and you can make reservations on OpenTable. After reading reviews I was hoping to be blown away. I sorely was not!  :(

My burger (Green Chile Cheeseburger) was good, but was supposed to come with cheddar cheese and mine definitely had american on it. My sweet potato fries ($2 up charge!) were mushy and cold. Let's just say that my meal filled me up, but was no where worthy of the price tag on it.

Lastly, the decor had a "run-down Applebees" vibe to it. Not what I expected. I probably won't be back unless a friend insists we go here.

6/2/2015

Go for the amazing burgers, stay for the tower of onion rings.

I run hot and cold at times on the idea of burgers as anything but convenience food. This place totally confirms that the American icon of food can be a high quality taste experience. Cooked to perfection, juicy, on a bun that stands up to the moisture through every last bite - I was so impressed!

Did I mention you really should get the tower of onion rings? They're not the thin, crunchy variety you'll find at a lot of fast food places, nor the battered donut kind restaurants tend to serve. They're just thickly sliced onion in a crispy golden coating, and quite perfect.

The service was so-so. This didn't affect loving every bite, but had to be mentioned. Our waitress visited our table once to drop off menus, once to take the order, and once to drop off the check (other staff delivered the food and she never checked back). This isn't enough for me not to go back, but I'd be interested to see if it happened again. I was there in a twosome and every other table seemed to be 6+ on that particular night. It's worth bringing friends or the whole family for the quality though, that's for sure.

7/10/2015

This place is dark and kind of small. They are known for their salad bar, so of course that's what I had. It has a wide variety to choose from of lettuces, veges, fruits, and dressings. The service was great even during peak dinner hours. It is also affordable too!

8/1/2015

Came here after a trip to the zoo and was very pleasantly surprised! The decor and vibe of the place was so unique with pictures and strange paintings all over the walls. It was really packed but for some reason we didn't have to wait to long for a table of 6. Ended up going for the Santa Fe wrap instead of s very tempting burger that they're so famous for just because it was so hot outside I didn't think I could handle something really heavy. When I saw the glorious burgers other people ordered I got a little jealous, but my wrap was actually perfect! It was very fresh and the flavors were amazing. It came with some cottage fries aka essentially some crispy/some soggy potato chips that could've been upgraded to actual fries, but I didn't mind them and they went with my wrap pretty well. The service was really great and I would definitely come back again for burgers or bring other people here if I'm trying to show them a cool restaurant with good food.

• 

  Santa Fe wrap and cottage fries

  Santa Fe wrap and cottage fries

7/8/2015

We accidently stumbled on this location and were very happy with our lunch choice.  The service was very good and we didn't have to wait for a table. Our server was very friendly and she did a great job of taking care of our kids with their needs.

The menu had a lot to choose from for your typical lunch. The restaurant claims they serve the best burgers in Chicago. And they were very delicious. It was one of the best burgers I have ever had. The homemade chips were also amazing. The only downfall of this restaurant is the small dessert menu.  We have no complaints otherwise.

• 

  Entrance.

  Entrance.
• 

  Works burger with chips.

  Works burger with chips.

9/20/2014

Came here after 4 hour delayed flight from DC as it's near my friend's place. It was around 11pm so the waitress did not look too happy to see us. Oh well. There were a few people at the bar and a few others came in while we were eating.

I was famished so I got a mushroom burger which came with homemade chips. The food was good. Of course I was starving so may have been biased, but my friend likes this place.

Funny: my friend spotted chocolate chip cream cheese on the salad bar that she just had to try. So she asked the grumpy waitress if she could have some which we got. I don't why she was so excited to try this, but she was. I have to say it was weird, but actually pretty tasty. Mostly it was just hilarious though.

I'd say if you are looking for a burger and a beer this is a pretty good place. Nothing outrageously outstanding, but it's good. They do have chocolate chip cream cheese though so there's that.....

• 

  Yum

  Yum

6/2/2015

Did not care for their salad bar, which looked like it had not been updated since the 80's.  Also, their veggie chilli was not very inventive ... or flavorful.  My bf thought his burger was OK, but wouldn't make a trip to RJ Grunts for another one.

1/30/2015

As someone who formerly ate beef very infrequently until the demise of my health that is Chicago, I developed an affinity for cheeseburgers when I moved to Chicago.  It's true.  I ate a burger about four times a year prior to living here.  Times have changed.  Times have changed indeed.  I've now had enough burgers to rank them!  The best burger in town is not here!  

I've been to RJ Grunts several times and am never impressed.  It's just okay and pretty unremarkable.  

They do have a nice menu of appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, entrees, milkshakes.  This spot is cute, casual, low key, but the spacing and seating is crowded and feels crammed and tight and unrelaxing.  Overall the menu is  overpriced considering the quality and taste.  The burgers are just okay.  The homemade chips are good but often times soggy and undercooked.  The fries are okay but I believe there is an extra charge for fries as your side dish.  The salad bar has a nice selection but is very overpriced.  The brunch is disappointing, not a big selection of items and feels like a cafeteria.  The chocolate chip cookie dessert is good.   Service is always unremarkable.  

Overall, this place is just alright but there are far better similar spots.

2/10/2015

I met up with a few friends in Lincoln Park yesterday for dinner. This place wasn't all that it was talked up to be. The booths are very small and I'm not even a big man. They're almost uncomfortable for four people. I'll say this is a cool neighborhood restaurant/bar to have a drink at or something but I wouldn't spend my money here again for dinner. The margaritas were inexpensive. My burger was not worth $15.00 at all---I could have a much better burger at First Draft in Printer's Row for less than what I paid at RJ Grunts. The service was decent, nothing spectacular. I'm actually quite shocked this is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant.

• 

  The bar area.

  The bar area.

1/4/2015

As a newbie to Chicago, I've been on the lookout for new spots and with RJ Grunts right in our building this one was an easy choice.

Known for their salad bar, it does not disappoint. It comes with unlimited salad and a choice between two soups of the day. There is some vanilla frosting with chocolate chips that is an absolute must. It's perfect on the fruit, or on the waffles that are a part of their weekend brunch. I'd definitely order an appetizer if you just plan on getting the salad bar, as their pricing structure will result in the total cost about being the same as the salad bar on its own.

The rest of their menu is phenomenal comfort food with daily specials, and a monthly gourmet burger that is always tasty. They make a great grilled cheese complete with multiple types of cheese and you have the option to choose between cottage fries (homemade chips), regular fries or sweet potato fries.

The biggest drawback is the bar. While they do offer a selection of craft brews, they are on the pricier side. There are some seasonal cocktails that they offer, but it's really not a place to go if you are looking for drinks to be a integral part of your experience. Stay away from the Bloody Mary, it's just some standard bottle mix and a celery stick. Nothing special at all.

• 

  Tab for brunch

  Tab for brunch
• 

  Chili - $6.50

  Chili - $6.50
• 

  Buffalo Chicken nachos

  Buffalo Chicken nachos

1/10/2015

One really can't go wrong at Grunts...a nice little casual family restaurant on the near north side. Grunts was the first Lettuce Entertain You palace for Rich Mellman. He started it in the 1970s and it quickly became a little hangout for the Chicago Bears players of that era...which insured Grunts of gaining a bit of press and buzz. Early on Grunts used to take pictures of the waitresses and put them up on the wall...and they remain their today exhibiting the fashion and hairstyles of the 1970s. Now to the food.

Started really as a hamburger place they have expanded into a wide ranging menu. They still make great hamburgers and patty melts, but also serve up wonderful slabs of BBQ ribs and wings (three heat levels of buffalo or just plain BBQ), along with daily specials such as salmon and carne asada. Grunts arguably started the salad bar fad back in the 1970s and continues it today. There are something like 50 items on the salad bar including two daily soups and a little jello or custard finisher. You can get the salad bar with any meal or all by itself...refills are always unlimited. All around portion sizes are large.

For the libations...Grunts has a little bar on your right when you walk in (you can also eat at the bar). It is a full-service bar that can mix up most any drink...and they make a few specials every day, albeit a bit pricey. The Grunts margarita was just ok...premade and a bit on the small side. Look on the mirror on the back wall of the bar and you'll find the listing of the craft beers offered that day. They do not pretend to be a beer palace and do not have a particularly large selection of craft beers, but do offer a half dozen or so stand-bys...along with PBR tall boys for $3. Basically they don't want you to hang at the bar...they want you in to eat at the restaurant...but that's fine with me.

They do take reservations and that can be useful since they get crowded at times. Great location and really nice pub food make this a stop worth finding. They have been here 40 years for a reason...go find out why.

7/19/2014

We came here for lunch on a Friday. It was busy but they take your cell number and send you a text when your table is ready. They also have stroller parking outside which is great.

I really did not like the feel of the restaurant. Too crowded- cramped. It was hard to get to our table. The salad bar looks amazing but is right by where people are sitting. I just didn't like it. Plus, the bathrooms are tiny! I know this is a chicago staple but I wasn't a fan of the atmosphere.

The food was good and the service was good. That's why I gave 3 stars. However, the chips were soggy, I would get fries next time (if there is a next time). I got the Yowza Burger which was cooked perfectly and the pickle was perfect! I should have asked for another :)

I'm glad I checked RJ's out, but won't make a special trip to come back.

• 

  Yowza Burger and chips

  Yowza Burger and chips

7/21/2015

Ended up here because ranallis wasn't open until 5 pm. Needed early dinner before volleyball. Yuck! What a waste of money. Brought my sister and whole family visiting from out of state and just so disappointing. Grumpy waitress, old fries that must have been sitting there forever and they just didn't care to give us fresh. By the time waitress came back we had finished most everything else didn't bother getting decent ones. Salad bar was ok. The fried pickles were about the only thing memorable.  Overall I can't believe I wasted calories and a meal here.

4/19/2015

I would not come here for the food. Good salad bar, but everything else was very mediocre. High point was the $5 Bloody Marys, not because they tasted great but because they tasted good enough and I needed some hair of the dog.  Brunch buffet was a big let-down, and frankly a place like this should aspire to be better than buffet trays of basics as the only choice. No excuse for not being able to order some better fare as an alternative.  We only came here because it was a large group with kids, and this was the best we could do on short notice.

7/19/2015

rj grunts is the gold standard for chicken fingers in chicago. everyone else talks about burgers and the salad bar at this place.

no. chicken fingers are WHERE IT'S AT. My friends make fun of me for my love of chicken fingers, saying i eat like a child. I don't care, they're delicious. I've lived in chicago for two and a half years and have been on the hunt for my favorite chicken fingers. about six months ago, i discovered rj grunt's and have literally not gone anywhere else for chicken fingers.

the food is simple but good. i don't ask for a lot, but these guys NAIL it.

5/26/2015

Best burgers, Milkshakes in Lincoln Park!!!

My recommendation is to go straight for the gruntburger your first time here absolutely phenomenal!!!

Juicy burger you can't go wrong with!!

10/15/2014

I've been here numerous times and haven't had a chance to review. This is a Lettuce Entertain You establishment. Walk through revolving door into bar area and hostess station. Full bar with tv mounted on wall. Behind the hostess station is the main seating area. Booths line the walls and traditional table/chair setups fill in the middle. It can get a little cramped in there during dinner.

Their salad bar is fantastic, lots of options, and great soups.

I've probably had about 4 or 5 of their burgers, but my favorite would have to be the Hickory Bacon Cheddar Burger. Burgers are huge and cooked to specified temperature. Burgers typically come with cottage fries, which are essentially potato chips or you can upgrade for fries for $1 I believe. They also have dinner specials.

Shakes are equally good. Overall, great place for burgers or salad bar. I would recommend reservations if going for dinner.

7/4/2015

Went for a send off of a friend, its kitschy 70's /80's and i was able to sing a long with every song. However, I am really not a fan of overpriced food. $15 for the salad bar. The salad bar was large though and the broccoli cheese soup was delicious.

8/6/2015

Totally family friendly. I am here at 2:30 and it is packed with smiling families, eating. They have a stroller storage place outside with a lock so no worries about stroller going missing. Awesome 70s music to boot.  I had the bbq pulled pork sandwich; delicious!

7/8/2015

Server had no idea we existed...finally after heading back to the hostess she alerted the server.  Salad bar looked ok, was probably ahead of its time 10 years ago, now it's just ho hum.  Portions were large and the food was good.  Not the best and not the worst.  Even at 3 stars I would eat here again.

4/21/2014

I've been here 2 times and on each occasion I've received good service. The serves are always helpful when it comes to providing information on the menu options, they keep your glass filled with you beverage of choice and they truly seem to enjoy working there.

When the burgers come out they always look like something you'd get at a 4th of July BBQ, but they taste delicious. I recommend the Hickory Bacon Cheddar Burger with the creamy caramel milkshake.

Just know that this place gets packed on weekends with people coming from the zoo so it's best to make reservations.

7/31/2015

Read about this place (near Lincoln Park Zoo) in the Chicago Lonely Planet guide. Quaint, quirky little place that didn't disappoint with thick, tasty milkshakes, tasty burgers and chicken sandwiches. Good kids' menu, too. Service was fast, friendly and attentive. Great way too cool off after wandering around the zoo in 90+ temps...

7/6/2015

If you're looking for delicious food and restaurant with character - look no further. We had 1 day to spend in Chicago and decided to go to RJ Grunts for lunch after going to the zoo. I had the salad bar (amazing- cut up fruits, entire apples, dessert, soup, etc.) and my husband got a classic cheeseburger (greasy and delicious). We had some draft beers from local breweries and enjoyed some 70s music while we ate. You know you've picked a hometown favorite when the local EMS and police department are there on lunch break...would highly recommend!

6/28/2015

Amazing salad bar. There is so much to choose from and the employees are super nice. If you're looking for a healthy option and want to enjoy your meal, come here!

5/1/2015

I am defiantly a regular at this restaurant because of the kind service, great food, and good prices.

The service is very good, and the waiters constantly check in on you. They are very nice, and almost all of the waiters know me and greet me with a smile.

You have a wide variety of food choices,  with a good kids menu. The adult menu has many options too. The salad bar is also a very good option with lots of toppings for your salad. RJ Grunts has a good beer menu which is always a plus for the adults.

The prices are fairly good for the food you receive. They accept credit cards and Let us Entertain you gift cards.

You will defiantly want to make a reservation because they are often busy, but it is worth the hassle.  

I would defiantly recommend going here!

4/29/2015

Pros:
- Good for groups/families/kids

Cons:
- Expensive for what you get
- Food is not great, especially the inconsistent cook of their meats
- Wait time

=======================================

I went here for a lunch double date after visiting Lincoln Park Zoo. I suppose it should have been expected given that it's within walking distance of the zoo, but the place was filled with toddlers and families. We were told the wait would be about half an hour. We waited inside almost 1 hour without any sign that we would be seated soon, so we went up and inquired about our table and were magically seated right away (?). Not sure if it was coincidence or they lost our names for some reason, but regardless it left a little question mark in my head

I ordered the Mushroom Swiss burger ($11.95), medium rare. The other 3 people in my party also ordered their burgers medium rare. Unfortunately, mine came out quite rare to the point it tasted cold and soggy. I understand if one restaurant may cook their "medium rare" burgers differently than another, but within the restaurant I feel like there should have been some consistency --- especially if the orders all went in at the same time. I don't even honestly remember the mushrooms or cheese or other components because the meat was so terrible. The burger was quite remarkably bad, especially given the very remarkable price tag. The best part of the meal was the side dill pickle --- I had to steal my boyfriend's pickle to fill me up because I couldn't finish my burger.

Note: their cottage fries basically taste like thick burnt potato chips. I'm not sure what the french fries or sweet potato fries taste like, so I can't comment on whether it's worth the $1-2 upgrade.

9/23/2014

Don't know why it's taken me so long to come dine here, but great food all around! I had the pulled-pork sandwich with the "chips" and our table split the onion rings and buffalo nachos for apps.

I say all of it is a definite try! The pulled pork was great! (Usually I am bias and think only BBQ joints can really pull off great pulled pork because it's a process to get it done right, but Grunts did it right on!) FYI - it doesn't come with cole slaw so if you like your pork sandwich slaw-stacked be sure to ask for it.

The buffalo nachos were soooo good! Definitely get them. And I love how they serve them in a bowl. Nachos are meant to be piled high, but it always baffles me why some places serve them on a dinner plate and they fall all over the place. I don't want to play Jenga with my food!

Onion rings were great, too. Thick cut onions with a thin, tasty crunch to the breading.

We were treated to the cookie sundae. (Nice surprise!) It was so big, five of us shared it. It was really good, but after all that food, we were barely able to clean the plate. But we manned up and did it anyways. Just had to waddle our happy, fat asses home.

7/2/2015

Not exaggerating when I say the best buffalo wings I've ever had. And I've eaten a lot of buffalo wings. Great taste, perfect crisp, nice size. Perfection.

8/17/2014

For how this place is hyped, I found it pretty mediocre. Let's talk about the Sunday brunch, because that's what I got:

The breakfast was excellent although pretty small and nowhere near fresh - I know it's a buffet, but still.

The salad bar is complete profit for them. The serving utensils are tiny, meaning you need 3+ scoops just to get a decent amount of anything. They put the cheap veggies (celery, corn, etc.) up front, and the more costly stuff including fruit in the back. This wouldn't bother me terribly except that anyone my height or above (average male) has to bend down under the splash guard and reach towards the back for anything that actually cost them money. There is ZERO protein at the bar and quite honestly not much variety. At least the ingredients there seemed more fresh.

The waitress was really nice but extremely slow...but to me it seemed they were understaffed rather than bad. Overall, a little below Lettuce standards if you ask me.

8/7/2014

I have a love-like relationship with this place.

I love it because it is the place my husband took me to on our first date over 30 years ago. But I am not particularly in love with their food. Their salad bar is outrageous at $14.95 per person and nothing to write home about except that it does include a soup and usually a warm plate of something.

Their burgers are ample at least a half pounder but their chips this time were sitting around for a while and not freshly fried to a crisp.
My husband had the Buffalo Chicken nachos which looked good.
But I only like the food. I came here out of convenience because I was at the Lincoln Park Zoo and it was the closest restaurant that was open and would entertain my 4 year old grandson. His burger was good but his fries were cold, too.

8/21/2014

This is a restaurant caught in a time warp with an inexplicable decorating scheme.  The best I could find on the menu was choosing between a Patty Melt and chicken tenders.  Maybe you could eat there on throwback Thursdays and partake of a salad bar that definitely feels old.  But it was very popular.

Plastic greenery tops windows and large framed picture portraits line the walls.  No, not famous celebrities, but servers from the restaurant from the beginning of time - lots of Charlie's Angels hair.  Not even the green tinted floor to ceiling mirror panels from the '70s could help.

This place gets 3* only because the food was pretty good.

3/9/2015

This is the original Lettuce Entertain You Restaurant, I believe, so my friend and I decided to give it a try. We made a reservation for 7:00pm, not sure if it would be busy on a Monday night or not.

We arrived around 6:20pm. They were not busy at all. [It is also great to mention that they are located right by the Lincoln Park Zoo so if you don't mind walking a block, it's free street parking.] Our waitress greeted us within minutes of being seated and she was not friendly at first, no smile, and I don't recall her giving us her name. When she asked if we had been there before, I replied "no," and she just said," oh, well the burgers are the best thing we have here."

She gave us some time to look over the menu - about 20 minutes to which is a long time. We proceeded to split R.J.'s Famous Chili as an appetizer. It was hot in temperature, topped with shredded cheese, full of beans, ground beef, onions, and topped with cheese [I mean, how can you really mess up chili?]

Then, I ordered the Hickory Bacon Cheddar Burger [supposedly the most popular burger]. This has bacon, cheddar cheese, with fried onions, lettuce, tomato and BBQ sauce. Served with your choice of side and a dill pickle. You can choose from their signature fries or upgrade to sweet potato fries for $2 extra. From my personal expertise of burgers, this burger is highly recommendable. The meat was cooked to exactly the temperature I wanted it and it was juicy. I also love BBQ sauce and bacon.

My friend ordered the Green Chili Cheeseburger - Fire-roasted poblano chilis, cheddar cheese, chipotle mayo, lettuce, pickle and red onion. She said it wasn't too spicy, but still very tasty. We also noticed they had a soup and salad bar, which seemed popular with some other guests.

For dessert, we ordered the full sized chocolate chip cookie with fudge and three scoops of vanilla ice cream. Delicious if you love sweets, but also very filling!

Burgers were up to par, but service definitely needs some work.

2/5/2015

My older brother usually orders wings from here with his buddies every Super Bowl Sunday. He recommended me and my group of friends to order here this year. My friends thought they were fabulous wings! That's a statement because we all grew up going to Buffalo Joes Wings in Evanston nearly every other week! No need to make the trip to Evanston anymore to pick up wings since RJ Grunts is more of a convenience and just as good!

The manager, Ron, is very respectful and understanding. I accidentally ordered to many wings, but he accommodated me! He cares about the customers and runs this place right!

GO RJ Grunts!

12/27/2014

This place is teeny tiny.   We went there several days ago because it is kid friendly.   We made a last minute reservation on OpenTable and as luck would have it, they gave us a booth which is a lot better than their cramped tables.  They gave my son a menu to color and crayons.   We ordered onion rings which were so good.  There aren't too many that come in an order but enough to get you wanting more food.  I had the salad bar for my meal.  The salad bar is kinda awesome.   Plenty of choices unlimited trips. I had three trips.  Two for salad and one for soup!  My son got grilled cheese and fries.  My hubby got a burger and fried chips.  Fries were awesome and fried chips were just okay.  Burger was really good.  I would go back here but definitely would lean towards the salad bar because it was that good!

2/6/2015

RJ Grunts is a solid establishment in the area, though I think it falls short of the Lettuce Entertain You standards for restaurants that I have grown over the years of dining in Chicago. I believe this is one of the older Lettuce Entertain You restaurants and you can tell it's a little worn in the decor. It feels tired and in need of some revamping.

The salad bar is good here. I definitely recommend you get that. I got the burger, which was A-OK. I don't have any real complaints about RJ Grunts, to be honest. It's a solid place in the area and probably one of the cheapest dining options that you'll find around here short of the fast food route. For that reason alone, this place is worth coming to if you want to grab food before a show but don't want to have a fancy culinary experience. I know I said I had nothing to complain about, but I will say that service was on the slower side, although perfectly cordial and friendly for every interaction we had with the waitstaff. Unless I have somewhere to be at a specific time, then I really have no issues with waiting a bit for my food or check. It allows me the opportunity to enjoy the company of whomever I'm with, which is a big part of going out to eat for me, so I wasn't displeased. If I had had somewhere to be, then it might be a different story.

Overall, while I wouldn't consider myself a "fan" of RJ Grunts, it gets the job done, and it also has a charm to it. I would say it's worth coming to at least once as a Chicagoan. It has a "Classic Chicago" vibe to it. Out-of-town guests might also appreciate the character and history of this place.

6/13/2014

RJ Grunts is the perfect place to eat after wandering around the zoo.  They must know this because as soon as you sit down they bring over a huge carafe of water.  It is pretty tight inside, so they will lock your stroller on a line outside.  
The burger I had here was so unique:  melted brie, spinach, garlic aioli, and fig jam.  Sounds odd for a burger, but lemme tell ya it was delicious.  I upgraded to sweet potato fries, and was glad that I did: sweet crunchy goodness.  
Just be careful with the beer:  if it's not happy hour it's $10 a pint.  Ouch.  
My kids loved the food with Chicago style hot dogs, chicken tenders, and fries.  They also bring out coloring books and toys.  
Outside of the restaurant is a city playground, so if there is a wait for a table someone can head across the street with the kids until the table is ready.

7/20/2015

Not entirely sure where to begin with this review.  I can not express how much we enjoyed RJ Grunts.  It all began on Saturday when we walked all the way from the south loop up to Lincoln Park.  With our luck it began to rain as soon as we got to the zoo and it was raining hard.  Everyone in our party knew it was time for a drink.  We looked on Yelp to find the closest bar and RJ Grunts was just about the closest place.  We walked in a marveled at the decor and found empty spots to sit at the bar.  We were immediately waiting on by a wonderful bartender named Ricky.  He was knowledgeable, made great drinks and we got to enjoy conversation with him.  My friend asked for a drink with vodka and he made a moscow mule which she really enjoyed.  I stuck with beer and so did my other friend.  They had some really great local beers on tap.  We stuck around and ordered chips, salsa and guacamole.  The appetizer was very reasonable priced and came with a lot of food.  We sat around for a while and enjoyed each others company and the bar.  I hope to try their food soon as everything coming out of the kitchen looked amazing.  Can't wait to return here.

12/2/2014

Came here late on a Friday. We had a reservation, but were a bit early, but we were able to find a spot at the bar while we waited.
Good service and a great beer selection at the bar.
Our server was helpful and attentive as well. We didn't wait long for drinks, food items or any follow-ups.
Overall a good experience at a nice place with a throwback vibe!

5/29/2015

Food was awesome but the service really made the experience. You should definitely try the buffalo wings or a burger. California chicken wrap was good too if you want something lighter. Will happily go back again the next time I visit Chicago!

5/6/2014

After a particularly long number of days eating somewhat unhealthily, I needed some greens in my diet. I had long wanted to check out RJ Grunts, and decided to make the plunge one random night.

After reviewing the menu I quickly realized that they smartly set it up so you either spend $15 on the salad bar, or like $21 for a burger and the salad bar. How can you turn down a $6 burger? That's Freakonomics at work for you. I feel for the bait, but I filled up on salad and saved half my sandwich for the next day.

There's no meat in the salad bar except for some unnamed pate (nothing is labeled actually), but you do get a choice of two soups. There's also random pasta salads and fruit.

PROTIP: There's a white marshmallow looking dip they have. After some research I found that it's actually chocolate chips in a cheesecake dip. It all came together when I saw they offer graham crackers for dipping.

I got a patty melt which was rather large, and nice and cheesy. Actually, that kind of explains RJ Grunts pretty well too. The trip wasn't as healthy as I had hoped, but I wouldn't mind coming back for more.

5/20/2015

I was really excited to eat here as I was told there were gluten free options... however that excitement turned to extreme disappointment as the options were presented and the food came out.

Salad bar = lots of options, except all of the lettuce was either soggy, wilted or going bad.
Gluten free bun = gluten free toast... that's not a bun
Bacon = NOT gluten free, how is a product that's supposed to be just meat have flour in it??
Mayo = NOT gluten free... how??

Shredded lettuce on burgers is a cheap filler and poor product, food left a bad taste in your mouth. It's pretty sad that an organization that started called "Lettuce Entertain You" comes from a restaurant that has the worst quality lettuce I've ever had. I highly recommend spending your money elsewhere.

1/9/2015

I don't know why a friend of mine said this place was awful, but I ordered my Yowza burger over the phone, picked it up and had the juiciest burger! I've been looking for a great burger in Chicago and I'm happy to have finally found one. The sweet potato fries are super addicting. Really friendly staff, so accommodating and nice.

• 

  Juicy medium rare Yowsa. YOWSA!

  Juicy medium rare Yowsa. YOWSA!

7/15/2015

This place hasn't changed - in a good way!  Visited after a 10 year hiatus and everything was great, reasonable pricing too. Great stop for lunch during a visit to Lincoln Park Zoo.

2/19/2015

Good stuff. My wife and I  both had French onion [good], she had a California wrap and I a yowza burger. Both of those items were also good and my burger was cooked to proper temperature. Then at last, my wife's favorite, was the cookie bowl with ice cream, delicious! Good ambiance for if this I'd what you looking for.

3/28/2014

Let me start off and say not all Lettuce Entertain is alike. I've written a couple of other spots that are simply amazing.

With that said, when I think of RJ Grunts, I am reminded of watching all the subpar or B movies that made it onto the big screen. Point it is it gives hope to all the movie makers AND restauranteurs that anything "fodder" is possible.

Comparative to today's standard and niche of the dining/ bar experience it was OK.

RJs is simply that old blanket that people can't seem to throw away. The salad bar is unique to be found in a bar. The burgers without the discount is just a burger. The decor is woodsy and Olive Garden ish circa 2000 down to the chairs.

I understand preservation. But wouldn't it be nice to add real support to this place than a few catchy indoor signage?

Overall a few steps higher than McD or BK.

11/9/2013

We visited this place for my boyfriend's birthday dinner after Emma K. raved about their burgers, and it was a huge home run!

We have been to RJ Grunt's once before, for brunch, but left a little unimpressed with the brunch buffet. When I hear buffet, I like to think of a table with sprawling options. Of course, you can fill up at the salad bar too, but there were only about 6 different brunch options.

BUT, when we went back last night, my opinion immediately shot up. I was so thrilled with the Yowza Burger - it delivered the kick that the menu promised without being too spicy. The rest of our table was equally pleased with their cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, and hickory smoked bacon burger. Great sized burgers, and they stayed together surprisingly well. My main complaint with my dinner is that the sweet potato fries were lukewarm and weren't crispy at all. I will forgive them for that but will make sure to get regular fries or the chips next time :)

The icing on the cake last night is that they brought out an ice cream sundae for my boyfriend since it was his birthday, and ice cream + a warm cookie for our friends, since it was their first visit. Even though this is more of a "no frills" type place, they really made us feel welcome, and we will definitely be back.

• 

  Ice cream with a warm cookie and hot fudge. Classic dessert, so delicious.

  Ice cream with a warm cookie and hot fudge. Classic dessert, so delicious.

5/1/2015

Great for an casual easy burger.  The salad bar looked amazing! I don't think you could go wrong with any burger on the menu.

10/27/2014

To be honest I'm surprised that LEYE keeps this open.  It seems past its prime.  Maybe in the 80s this was considered kitschy but I found it to be annoying.  The salad bar used to be one of the best in the city.  It now needs to be updated.  The seats are small and tight and even if you have a reservation they'll tell you they'll seat you in a few mins when they should say it'll be at least 20 mins.  Its kind of chaotic in there.  The prices are crazy.  $5 for a scoop of tuna from the salad bar?  They charge extra if you want fries instead of their homemade potato chips, and even more if you want sweet potato fries.  The most annoying part is the menu.  It doesn't tell you what the item is.  For example the tuna sandwich says something like, do you remember the first time you had one of these?  No I don't because I'm not sure if this is tuna salad, tuna steak, on a bun or toast, with cheese?  Annoying!
Their redeeming qualities are the wait staff (not the hostess) and the food.  I shared the buffalo nachos with a friend and they were excellent.  We also had one of their adult milkshakes which were insanely delicious.  If I'm seen back here its b/c the food is delicious.  I just hope that they revamp the place sometime soon.

1/26/2015

This is without a doubt the best burger I've ever had in the city and I've tried a lot.
The staff is always friendly, the atmosphere is from the 70's and exactly the same as when it opened I imagine.  I'm pretty much a regular here with my girlfriend (she raves about the salad bar also!) and I'm sure I'll be back at least 10-15 times this year as well.

7/7/2015

Seriously get  the burger. Chicken wings are good too. French fries  as well. Chips and guac are out of this world.. Well just get it all.

7/5/2015

I was pleased to return to RJG's after many years and see it has stayed true to its roots.  They were one of the original 'salad bar' places back in the 70's and it still runs strong.  Puts places like Ruby Tuesdays salad bar, and entrees, to shame. But all for a reasonable price.

5/24/2015

Food was good nothing really special.  Service was also good. The restaurant was small and it was really tight spaces.

11/26/2014

I can't say that I'm impressed. I came into town yesterday from Denver and planned to meet family here, I made a reservation because we are a large party...  big mistake. First of all the place is tiny.. and crowded and cramped. When we got there they said it would be just a minute, which turned into 20 and most times that wouldn't be to big of an issue but they have no where for a party of 8 to stand and wait, I don't know about you but I don't want to stand outside in these temperatures with kids. We finally got our table and wow what a joke, they put all 8 of us in a table meant for 6 or less, horrible.
The food is so so, a burger joint but I've had way better. The salad bar is 15 $$ really? For lettuce?  Really nothing to write home about. I got chicken  fingers which were ok, but they do charge extra for fries.. umm ok...
 Our service was the best part about this dinner.

5/17/2015

The burgers are just epic; they're huge and you have so many choices (there were probably 12 different option the menu, many with really exciting cheeses, etc). They hype their salad bar a lot, but I'm not sure how many people actually take advantage of that, you're in a burger place and the amount of food is already overwhelming. In my group of 8 people, no one finished all their food (in a good way), there was just so much. We came for a restaurant week deal that made the burgers much cheaper after 10pm; we told the wait staff what our plan was and they were polite enough to enter our orders well before 10, and to bring us drinks etc, even if we had to wait a bit for the burgers to take advantage of the deal. A great place to stop by after walking around the zoo to burn off some calories before hand (you'll be so comatosed after that walking around the zoo won't be an option).

9/22/2014

The buffalo chicken nachos. Friend waitstaff. Great classic ambiance. A little pricey but the nachos are so worth it. Salad bar is great too.